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Peng, Y. Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC). Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60457 (accessed on 26 September 2026).
Peng Y. Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC). Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60457. Accessed September 26, 2026.
Peng, Yu. "Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC)" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60457 (accessed September 26, 2026).
Peng, Y. (2026, September 24). Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC). In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/60457
Peng, Yu. "Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC)." Encyclopedia. Web. 24 September, 2026.
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (BGC)
Edit

A biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) is a contiguous, functionally coordinated genomic locus that encodes the enzymatic and regulatory machinery required for the biosynthesis of a specialized natural product or a defined family of structurally related metabolites. In microbial genomes, a BGC commonly includes one or more core biosynthetic genes encoding scaffold-forming enzymes, together with genes for tailoring enzymes that modify the molecular scaffold, transport proteins, pathway-specific regulators, precursor-supply functions, and, where relevant, self-resistance or immunity mechanisms [1][2]. The coordinated expression and activity of these genes direct the conversion of primary metabolites into a characteristic natural-product scaffold and its subsequent chemical diversification. BGCs are recognized as genomic units through the physical co-localization of genes whose protein products collectively constitute a biosynthetic pathway; their boundaries encompass the genes contributing directly to metabolite assembly, modification, regulation, export, or producer protection [1][3].

specialized metabolism natural products microbial genomics biosynthetic enzymes

References

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